Improved medicine-chest



UNITED STATES ATENT Uri-Ica R. B. PARKINSON AND J. M. MARIS, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MEDiClNE-CHEST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,2266, dated November29, 1864.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, R. B. Panxinson and JOHN M. MARIS, both ofPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Medicine-Case forArmy Use; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention consists, iirst, in a medicinecase composed of an exteriorcase of leather or other like material, and an interior box, with spacesbetween the said box and the case for the reception of bandages, lint,85e., which serve as cushions to render the case more comfortable tocarry and to protect the contents from injury; secondly, in certainpouches at the ends ofthe case for the reception of sponges, which canthus be obtained without disturbing the contents of the case.

In order to enable others to make and use our invention, we will nowproceed to describe its construction.

0n reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecication, Figure l is a longitudinal section of our improvedmedicine-case for army use; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section, andFig. 3 a sectional,

plan view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a leather case, which is closed at the top by a ilap, a, the latterbeing secured by suitable straps and buckles, and at each end of thecase is a leather pocket or pouch, B, through openings near the upperedge of each of which passes a cord, c. A flap, d, is arranged to turndown over each pouch, and is secured in its position by a strap andbuckle. On the inside of the iiap a is a leather strip, b, which issecured at three of its edges to the said flap so as to form a pocket.vVithin the leather case iits an oblong wooden box, C, the sides e e ofwhich are somewhat lower than the ends f f, the latter being rounded atthe top, as shown in the drawings. The interior of the box is separatedby partitions into four compartments, D, D', D, and DN', three of whichcontain metallic fiasks for the reception of medicines. In thecompartment D is a glass vial or bottle, E, over the top of which isinverted a graduated measuring-glass, l.

Upon the tops of the iiasks in the box rests a cylindrical case, G,which is adapted for the reception of plasters. the box C at the ends ofthe same, but at the sides and bottom of the box the case is so muchlarger than the latter that there is a space between the two. Pockets orpouches are thus formed for the reception of lint, bandages, or othersuitable soft or yielding materials neededby surgeons on the iield. Thespace between the bottom of the box and that of the leather case isfilled with hair, which forms a yielding cushion, and in each of thepouches at the end of the case is a sponge. The pocket at the under sideof the flap a is employed for the reception of lint or bandages, and atowel is placed on top of the iasks and between the latter and the flap.To each end of the case is riveted one end of a belt or strap, H.

The medical cases heretofore constructed for army use have provedobjectionable from their weight and from the improper distribution oftheir contents, which makes them inconveniently bulky. Being composed ofhard unyieldin g materials,they are very uncomfortable to carry, andconsequently are frequently thrown aside by the attendant, or purposelydropped, so as to damage the contents, thereby rendering themunserviceable.

rlhe above-described case is light, (weighing but nine and one-halfpounds when flled,) and the contents are so disposed that any one ofthem may be obtained without needlessly disarranging the others, and thesoft yielding materials which are interposed between the outside of thebox A and the case, as well as the sponges at the ends, form cushions,so that the case is both comfortable to carry and is serviceable as apillow at night. rllhere is consequently no inducement for the attendantto dispose of it, while if accidentally dropped the shock will be brokenby the cushion and damage to the contents be thus prevented. As spongesare most frequently used, it will be seen that they are placed in such aposition as to be readily obtained without disturbing the other contentsof the case.

INe claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. Amedicine-case composed of the exterior case or cover, A, of leather orother like The case is secured to material, and the interior box, C,with spaces arranged between the two, substantially as and for thepurpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the said case with v the pouches B B at the end ofthe same, for Witnesses: the purpose specified. p CHARLEs E. FosTER,

In testimony whereof we have signed our J. EMLIN MARIS.

names to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses. ROBT. B. PARKINSON. JOHN M. MARIS.

